State and federal laws generally prohibit the possession, use, manufacture, or distribution of a false or fake driver’s license, identification card, military ID, passport, state or federal employee identification card, or other identification documents (fake ID). The legal definition of a fake ID is generally an ID that has been (1) altered, (2) falsified, (3) forged, (4) duplicated, (5) reproduced, or (6) counterfeited.

In many states, possession of a fake ID may be charged as a misdemeanor or as a felony, with fines, community service, probation, suspension of driver’s license, and possible jail time. Some colleges and universities impose additional penalties on students who are convicted of possessing a fake ID—including dismissal from the college or university. And fraud in connection with identification documents may also be a federal crime. See 18 U.S. Code §1028.

Fake ID laws are usually located in a state’s statutes—in the penal or criminal code, the alcoholic beverage code, or the transportation or motor vehicle code.

In Rhode Island, as in other states, it is illegal to possess, use, create, or distribute a fake ID. The state's laws define a fake ID as any identification that has been altered, falsified, forged, duplicated, reproduced, or counterfeited. The specific statutes that address fake IDs can be found in various sections of Rhode Island's laws, including those related to criminal offenses, motor vehicles, and alcoholic beverages. The penalties for fake ID offenses in Rhode Island can range from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on the severity of the crime. Consequences may include fines, community service, probation, suspension of one's driver's license, and even imprisonment. Additionally, federal law under 18 U.S. Code §1028 also criminalizes fraud related to identification documents, which can lead to federal charges with potentially more severe penalties. Educational institutions in Rhode Island may impose their own disciplinary actions against students who are caught with a fake ID, which could include suspension or expulsion.